mc.risingsun-第7章

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　The　elevator　said；　〃Mōsugu　de　gozaimasu。〃
　We　came　to　the　garage　floor；　and　the　people　got　off。　Connor　watched　them　go；　and　shook　his　head。　〃In　no　other　country　in　the　world；〃　he　said；　〃would　you　hear　people　calmly　discussing　the　fact　that　their　cities　and　states　were　sold　to　foreigners。〃
　〃Discussing？〃　I　said。　〃They're　the　ones　doing　the　selling。〃
　〃Yes。　Americans　are　eager　to　sell。　It　amazes　the　Japanese。　They　think　we're　mitting　economic　suicide。　And　of　course　they're　right。〃　As　he　spoke；　Connor　pressed　a　button　on　the　elevator　panel　marked　EMERGENCY　ONLY。
　A　soft　pinging　alarm　sounded。
　〃What'd　you　do　that　for？〃
　Connor　looked　at　a　video　camera　mounted　in　the　corner　of　the　ceiling　and　waved　cheerfully。　A　voice　on　the　inter　said；　〃Good　evening；　officers。　Can　I　help　you？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Connor　said。　〃Am　I　speaking　to　building　security？〃
　〃That's　right；　sir。　Is　something　wrong　with　your　elevator？〃
　〃Where　are　you　located？〃
　〃We're　on　the　lobby　level；　southeast　corner；　behind　the　elevators。〃
　〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　Connor　said。　He　pushed　the　button　for　the　lobby。
　
　？
　The　security　office　of　the　Nakamoto　Tower　was　a　small　room；　perhaps　five　meters　by　seven。　It　was　dominated　by　three　large；　flat　video　panels；　each　divided　into　a　dozen　smaller　monitor　views。　At　the　moment；　most　of　these　were　black　rectangles。　But　one　row　showed　images　from　the　lobby　and　the　garage；　another　row　showed　the　party　in　progress。　And　a　third　row　showed　the　police　teams　up　on　the　forty…sixth　floor。
　Jerome　Phillips　was　the　guard　on　duty。　He　was　a　black　man　in　his　midforties。　His　gray　Nakamoto　Security　uniform　was　soaked　around　the　collar；　and　dark　under　the　armpits。　He　asked　us　to　leave　the　door　open　as　we　entered。　He　appeared　noticeably　uneasy　to　have　us　there。　I　sensed　he　was　hiding　something；　but　Connor　approached　him　in　a　friendly　way。　We　showed　our　badges　and　shook　hands。　Connor　managed　to　convey　the　idea　that　we　were　all　security　professionals；　having　a　little　chat　together。　〃Must　be　a　busy　night　for　you；　Mr。　Phillips。〃
　〃Yeah；　sure。　The　party　and　everything。〃
　〃And　crowded；　in　this　little　room。〃
　He　wiped　sweat　from　his　forehead。　〃Boy；　you　got　that　right。　All　of　them　packed　in　here。　Jesus。〃
　I　said；　〃All　of　who？〃
　Connor　looked　at　me　and　said；　〃After　the　Japanese　left　the　forty…sixth　floor；　they　came　down　here　and　watched　us　on　the　monitors。　Isn't　that　right；　Mr。　Phillips？〃
　Phillips　nodded。　〃Not　all　of　'em；　but　quite　a　few。　Down　here；　smoking　their　damn　cigarettes；　staring　and　puffing　and　passing　around　faxes。〃
　〃Faxes？〃
　〃Oh；　yeah；　every　few　minutes；　somebody'd　bring　in　another　fax。　You　know；　in　Japanese　writing。　They'd　all　pass　it　around；　make　ments。　Then　one　of　'em　would　leave　to　send　a　fax　back。　And　the　rest　would　stay　to　watch　you　guys　up　on　the　floor。〃
　Connor　said；　〃And　listen；　too？〃
　Phillips　shook　his　head。　〃No。　We　don't　have　audio　feeds。〃
　〃I'm　surprised；〃　Connor　said。　〃This　equipment　seems　so　up…to…date。〃
　〃Up…to…date？　Hell；　it's　the　most　advanced　in　the　world。　These　people；　I　tell　you　one　thing。　These　people　do　it　right。　They　have　the　best　fire　alarm　and　fire　prevention　system。　The　best　earthquake　system。　And　of　course　the　best　electronic　security　system：　best　cameras；　detectors；　everything。〃
　〃I　can　see　that；〃　Connor　said。　〃That's　why　I　was　surprised　they　don't　have　audio。〃
　〃No。　No　audio。　They　do　high…resolution　video　only。　Don't　ask　me　why。　Something　to　do　with　the　cameras　and　how　they're　hooked　up；　is　all　I　know。〃
　On　the　flat　panels　I　saw　five　different　views　of　the　forty…sixth　floor；　as　seen　from　different　cameras。　Apparently　the　Japanese　had　installed　cameras　all　over　the　floor。　I　remembered　how　Connor　had　walked　around　the　atrium；　staring　up　at　the　ceiling。　He　must　have　spotted　the　cameras　then。
　Now　I　watched　Graham　in　the　conference　room；　directing　the　teams。　He　was　smoking　a　cigarette；　which　was　pletely　against　regulations　at　a　crime　scene。　I　saw　Helen　stretch　and　yawn。　Meanwhile；　Kelly　was　getting　ready　to　move　the　girl's　body　off　the　table　onto　a　gurney；　before　zipping　it　into　the　bag；　and　he　was…
　Then　it　hit　me。
　They　had　cameras　up　there。
　Five　different　cameras。
　Covering　every　part　of　the　floor。
　I　said；　〃Oh　my　God〃　and　I　spun　around；　very　excited。　I　was　about　to　say　something　when　Connor　smiled　at　me　in　an　easy　way；　and　placed　his　hand　on　my　shoulder。　He　squeezed　my　shoulder　…　hard。
　〃Lieutenant；〃　he　said。
　The　pain　was　incredible。　I　tried　not　to　wince。　〃Yes；　Captain？〃
　〃I　wonder　if　you'd　mind　if　I　asked　Mr。　Phillips　one　or　two　questions。〃
　〃No；　Captain。　Go　right　ahead。〃
　〃Perhaps　you'd　take　notes。〃
　〃Good　idea；　Captain。〃
　He　released　my　shoulder。　I　got　out　my　notepad。
　Connor　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　table　and　said；　〃Have　you　been　with　Nakamoto　Security　long；　Mr。　Phillips？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　About　six　years　now。　I　started　over　in　their　La　Habra　plant；　and　when　I　hurt　my　leg　…　in　a　car　accident　…　and　couldn't　walk　so　good；　they　moved　me　to　security。　In　the　plant。　Because　I　wouldn't　have　to　walk　around；　you　see。　Then　when　they　opened　the　Torrance　plant；　they　moved　me　over　there。　My　wife　got　a　job　in　the　Torrance　plant；　too。　They　do　Toyota　subassemblies。　Then；　when　this　building　opened；　they　brought　me　here；　to　work　nights。〃
　〃I　see。　Six　years　altogether。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃You　must　like　it。〃
　〃Well；　I　tell　you；　it's　a　secure　job。　That's　something　in　America。　I　know　they　don't　think　much　of　black　folks；　but　they　always　treated　me　okay。　And　hell；　before　this　I　worked　for　GM　in　Van　Nuys；　and　that's　。　。　。　you　know；　that's　gone。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Connor　said　sympathetically。
　〃That　place；〃　Phillips　said；　shaking　his　head　at　the　memory。　〃Christ。　The　management　assholes　they　used　to　send　down　to　the　floor。　You　couldn't　believe　it。　M。B。　fucking　A。；　out　of　Detroit；　little　weenies　didn't　know　shit。　They　didn't　know　how　the　line　worked。　They　didn't　know　a　tool　from　a　die。　But　they'd　still　order　the　foremen　around。　They're　all　pulling　in　two　hundred　fucking　thousand　a　year　and　they　didn't　know　shit。　And　nothing　ever　worked　right。　The　cars　were　all　a　piece　of　shit。　But　here；〃　he　said；　tapping　the　counter。　〃Here；　I　got　a　problem；　or　something　doesn't　work；　I　tell　somebody。　And　they　e　right　down；　and　they　know　the　system　…　how　it　works　…　and　we　go　over　the　problem　together；　and　it　gets　fixed。　Right　away。　Problems　get　fixed　here。　That's　the　difference。　I　tell　you：　these　people　pay　attention。〃
　〃So　you　like　it　here。〃
　〃They　always　treated　me　okay；〃　Phillips　said；　nodding。
　That　didn't　exactly　strike　me　as　a　glowing　endorsement。　I　had　the　feeling　this　guy　wasn't　mitted　to　his　employers　and　a　few　questions　could　drive　the　wedge。　All　we　had　to　do　was　encourage　the　break。
　〃Loyalty　is　important；〃　Connor　said；　nodding　sympathetically。
　〃It　is　to　them；〃　he　said。　〃They　expect　you　to　show　all　this　enthusiasm　for　the　pany。　So　you　know；　I　always　e　in　fifteen　or　twenty　minutes　early；　and　stay　fifteen　or　twenty　minutes　after　the　shift　is　over。　They　like　you　to　put　in　the　extra　time。　I　did　the　same　at　Van　Nuys；　but　nobody　ever　noticed。〃
　〃And　when　is　your　shift？〃
　〃I　work　nine　to　seven。〃
　〃And　tonight？　What　time　did　you　e　on　duty？〃
　〃Quarter　to　nine。　Like　I　said；　I　e　in　fifteen　minutes　early。〃
　The　original　call　had　been　recorded　about　eight…thirty。　So　if　this　man　came　at　a　quarter　to　nine；　he　would　have　arrived　almost　fifteen　minutes　too　late　to　see　the　murder。　〃Who　was　on　duty　before　you？〃
　〃Well；　usually　it's　Ted　Cole。　But　I　don't　know　if　he　worked　tonight。〃
　〃Why　is　that？〃
　The　guard　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　sleeve；　and　looked　away。
　〃Why　is　that；　Mr。　Phillips？〃　I　said；　with　a　little　more　force。
　The　guard　blinked　and　frowned；　saying　nothing。
　Connor　said　quietly；　〃Because　Ted　Cole　wasn't　here　when　Mr。　Phillips　arrived　tonight；　was　he；　Mr。　Phillips？〃
　The　guard　shook　his　head。　〃No；　he　wasn't；〃
　I　started　to　ask　another　question；　but　Connor　raised　his　hand。　〃I　imagine；　Mr。　Phillips；　you　must　have　been　pretty　surprised　when　you　came　in　this　room；　at　a　quarter　to　nine。〃
　〃You　damn　right　I　was；〃　Phillips　said。
　〃What　did　you　do　when　you　saw　the　situation？〃
　〃Well。　Right　away；　I　said　to　the　guy；　'Can　I　help　you？'　Very　polite　but　still　firm。　I　mean；　this　is　the　security　room。　And　I　don't　know　who　this　guy　is；　I've　never　seen　him　before。　And　the　guy　is　tense。　Very　tense。　He　says　to　me；　'Get　out　of　my　way。'　Real　pushy；　like　he　owns　the　world。　And　he　shoves　past　me；　taking　his　briefcase　with　him。
　〃I　say；　'Excuse　me；　sir；　I'll　have　to　see　some　identification。'　He　don't　answer　me；　he　just　keeps　going。　Out　the　lobby　and　down　the　stairs。〃
　〃You　didn't　try　and　stop　him？〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　didn't。〃
　〃Because　he　was　Japanese？〃
　〃You　got　that　right。　But　I　called　up　to　central　security　…　it's　up　on　the　ninth　floor　…　to　say　I　found　a　man　in　the　room。　And　they　say；　'Don't　worry；　everything　is　fine。'　But　I　can　hear　they're　tense；　too。　Everybody　is　tense。　And　then　I　see　on　the　monitor　。　。　。　the　dead　girl。　So　that's　the　first　I　knew　what　it　was　about。〃
　Connor　said；　〃The　man　you　saw。　Can　you　describe　him？〃
　The　guard　shrugged。　〃Thirty；　thirty…five。　Medium　height。　Dark　blue　suit　like　they　all　wear。　Actually　he　was　more　hip　than　most　of　them。　He　had　this　tie　with　triangles　on　it。　Oh　…　and　a　scar　on　his　hand；　like　a　burn　or　something。〃
　〃Which　hand？〃
　〃The　left　hand。　I　noticed　it　when　he　was　closing　the　briefcase。〃
　〃Could　you　see　inside　the　briefcase？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃But　he　was　closing　it　when　you　came　in　the　room？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Was　it　your　impression　he　took　something　from　this　room？〃
　〃I　really　couldn't　say；　sir。〃
　Phillips's　evasiveness　began　to　annoy　me。　I　said；　〃What　do　you　think　he　took？〃
　Connor　shot　me　a　look。
　The　guard　went　bland：　〃I　really　don't　know；　sir。〃
　Connor　said；　〃Of　course　you　don't。　There's　no　way　you　could　know　what　was　in　somebody　else's　briefcase。　By　the　way；　do　you　make　recordings　from　the　security　cameras　here？〃
　〃Yes；　we　do。〃
　〃Could　you　show　me　how　you　do　that？〃
　〃Sure　thing。〃　The　guard　got　up　from　the　desk　and　opened　a　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　We　followed　him　into　a　second　small　room；　almost　a　closet；　stacked　floor　to　ceiling　with　small　metal　boxes；　each　with　stenciled　notations　in　Japanese　kanji　script；　and　numbers　in　English。　Each　with　a　glowing　red　light；　and　an　LED　counter；　with　numbers　running　forward。
　Phillips　said；　〃These　are　our　recorders。　They　lay　down　signals　from　all　the　cameras　in　the　building。　They're　eight…millimeter；　high…definition　video。〃　He　held　up　a　small　cassette；　like　an　audio　cassette。　〃Each　one　of　these　records　eight　hours。　We　change　over　at　nine　p。m。；　so　that's　the　first　thing　I　do　when　I　e　on　duty。　I　pop　out　the　old　ones；　and　switch　over　to　the　fresh　ones。〃
　〃And　did　you　change　cassettes　tonight；　at　nine　o'clock？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Just　like　always。〃
　〃And　what　do　you　do　with　the　tapes　you　remove？〃
　〃Keep　'em　in　the　trays　down　here；〃　he　said；　bending　to　show　us　several　long；　thin　drawers。　〃We　keep　everything　off　the　cameras　for　seventy…two　hours。　That's　three　days。　So　we　keep　nine　sets　of　tapes　all　together。　And　we　just　rotate　each　set　through；　once　every　three　days。　Get　me？〃
　Connor　hesitated。　〃Perhaps　I'd　better　write　this　down。〃　He　produced　a　small　pad　and　a　pen。